Dual fuse block



Feb. 3, 1942. s G, HOUSE 2,271,693

DUAL FUSE BLOCK Filed June 2, 1941 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 ApplicationJune 2, 1941, Serial No. 396,312

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a dual purpose fuse block.

An object of the invention is the provision of a fuse block forsupporting a fuse, of the usual type, in a predetermined position sothat when a greater current is drawn through the circuit in which thefuse is embodied said fuse will be blown or burned out to prevent damageto certain electrical devices, said block being so constructed that thefuse will be burned out when there is an interruption of a secondarycircuit also including the fuse therein.

Another object of the invention is the provicauses a. greater flow ofcurrent, said device also including means for opening the primarycircuit when for some reason a current is caused to be I built upunnecessarily in a secondary circuit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fuse block forcarrying a fuse of the standard type in which the fuse is maintained ina predetermined position so that the ends of the fuse will be spacedfrom points forming the terminals of a secondary circuit of anelectrical device so that when the secondary circuit is interrupted aspark will be created between the points and the ends of the fuse forcausing the fuse to be ruptured whereby the primary circuit will beopened.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawingforming a part of the specification, nevertheless, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, beingsusceptible of such changes and modifications as define no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of a fuse block constructed inaccordance with the prinvided with a base member I5 secured at It to thetop of the block l0 and in spaced relation with each other. Each of theclips are provided with spring arms I1 and [8 which are bowed outwardlyas shown in Fig. 3 to receive the metal conducting caps I9 of a fuse 26of the standard type.

sion of a device foropening a primary circuit 'when an unauthorizedresistance in the circuit ciples of my invention and showing more orless diagrammatically several circuits connected with the designates abase member formed of insulating material which has an attaching lip IIat each end provided with a perforation l2 through which a screw may bepassed for securing the block to a fixed support.

A' pair of spring clips l3 and it are each pro- Each clip is providedwith an upstanding finger 2| adapted to engage the outer ends of themetal caps iii of the fuse 20 for maintaining the fuse in apredeterminedposition for a purpose which will be presently explained.

It will be appreciated that the finger 2|, the spring arms l1. and I8and the base member it may be formed from one piece of metal.

A pair of contacts and 28 are provided with elongated slots 21 whichreceive a screw or bolt 28. Each contactis provided with an upstand-'ing arm 30 and a horizontally disposed member'- 3! having a point 32 atits free end and these points are adapted to be spaced a predetermineddistance from the ends of the metal conducting caps IS on the oppositeends of the fuse 20. In order to adjust the points 32 towards and awayfrom the ends of the metal cap it is only necessary to loosen the screw28 whereby the contacts 25 and 26 may be moved towards the ends of thefuse until the points 32 are spaced the correct distance from the endsof the fuse.

Since the fingers 2i engage the opposite ends of the fuse 20 the fusewill be prevented from shifting laterally in either direction so thatafter the points 32 are once properly adjusted with respect to the endsof the fuse, proper spacing between the points and the ends of the fusewill be maintained at all times.

The fuse block is adapted'to be used in various types ofcircuits and itis especially adapted for use in connection with certain electricaldevices for controlling the operation of elevators, for illuminatingpurposes, and this device may also be used in connection withgenerators.

One form of use is illustrated in Fig. 1 by the diagram in which astepped up voltage is employed for maintaining a lamp 35 illuminated.This lamp has its contacts connected by wires 36 and 31 with atransformer generally designated by the numeral 38so that said wires andthe lamp will be considered a secondary circuit.

The primary circuit is represented by wires 40, Al and 42. Wires l0 and42 are connected with a source of current and through the clips I3 and Hand the fuse 20 the primary circuit is completed. v

A wire 45 connects the wire 36 with a contact 25, while the wire 48connects the'wire 31 with a contact 26. It,wil1 be seen by this diagramthat the fuse 20 is embodied in the primary circuit represented by thewires 40, II and 42, but

is not directly in the secondary circuit repre-- the secondary circuitsaid voltage will cause a sparking between the points 32 and the caps [9of the fuse 2B, I'he high temperature produced by the sparking willcause the fuse 10 to be disrupted and therefore, will not only open thesecondary circuit but the primary circuit will likewise be opened aswell. In this manner the entire current is cut oil? from all electricaldevices included in the circuits to prevent injury or destruction tosaid devices.

It very frequently happens that where the secondary circuit of atransformer is interrupted and the primary circuit is maintained theheat caused by the high voltage in the transformer at this time willburn out the transformer whereby all of, the circuits will have to becut oil until a new transformer has been installed and after the troublehas been repaired in the secondary circuit.

I claim: a

1. A dual purpose fuse block comprising a base formed of insulatingmaterial, a pair 'of metal clips secured to the base in spaced relation,a fuse having the ends thereof clamped in place by the clips, contactsconnected with each clip and adapted to be connected to the terminals ofan electric circuit, a-second pair of contacts mounted on the ends ofthe base and having points spaced a distance from the ends of the fuse,said second contacts being connected with a second electrical circuit.

2. A dual purpose fuse block comprising a base formed of insulatingmaterial, a pair of metal 5 clips secured to the base in spacedrelation, a fuse having the ends thereof clamped in place by the clips,contacts connected with each clip and adapted to be connected to theterminals of an electric circuit, a second pair of contacts mounted onthe ends ,of the base and having points spaced a distance from the endsof the fuse, said second contacts being connected with a secondelectrical circuit, and means for adiustably positioning the secondcontacts for predeterminately positioning the points relative to theends of the fuse.

3. A dual purpose fuse block comprising a base formed of insulatingmaterial, a pair of metal clips secured to the base in spaced relation,a fuse having the ends thereof clamped in place by the clips, contactsconnected with each clip and adapted to be connected to the terminals ofan electric circuit, a second pair of contacts mounted on the ends ofthe base and having points spaced a distance from the ends of the fuse,said second contacts being connected with a second electrical circuit,and spaced means on the block for positioning the ends of the fuse in apredetermined spaced relation with the points.

4. A dual purpose fuse block comprising a base formed of insulatingmaterial, a pair of metal clips secured to the base in spaced relation,a fuse having the ends thereof clamped in place by the clips, contactsconnected with each clip and adapted to be connected to the terminals ofan electric-circuit, a second pair of contacts mounted on the ends ofthe base and having points spaced a distance from the ends .of the fuse,lips projecting upwardly from the base and engaging the ends of the fusefor aiding in retaining the ends of the fuse in a predetermined spacedrelation with the points, and means for adjustably positioning thesecond mentioned contacts for properly spacing the points from the endsof the fuse, said second contacts being connected with a secondelectrical circuit.

SAMUEL G. HOUSE.

